Photo AI
DNA is made of units called nucleotides - Leaving Cert Biology - Question b - 2008
Question b
DNA is made of units called nucleotides. Draw a labelled diagram of a nucleotide to show its three constituent parts. Which of the labelled parts in your diagram in... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:DNA is made of units called nucleotides - Leaving Cert Biology - Question b - 2008
Step 1
Draw a labelled diagram of a nucleotide
Answer
To illustrate a nucleotide, draw a simplified structure comprising three parts: a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar (either deoxyribose or ribose), and a nitrogenous base (which can be adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine). Label these components clearly.
Step 2
Which of the labelled parts in your diagram in (i) may vary from nucleotide to nucleotide?
Answer
The part that may vary from nucleotide to nucleotide is the nitrogenous base. Different nucleotides contain different bases (adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine) that contribute to the genetic code.
Step 3
The genetic code is contained within the DNA of chromosomes. Briefly describe the nature of this code.
Answer
The genetic code consists of sequences of three nucleotide bases, known as triplets or codons. Each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid or serves as a stop signal in protein synthesis. This sequential nature encodes the instructions needed to build proteins, which are essential for the structure and function of living organisms.
Step 4
What is meant by non-coding DNA?
Answer
Non-coding DNA refers to regions of the DNA sequence that do not code for proteins. These areas may have regulatory roles, help in the maintenance of chromosome structure, or serve other functions, but they do not directly produce protein-coding sequences.
Step 5
Step 6